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“In the Trees”
Julia Waetzig
Grade 12, New Canaan High School
Oil on canvas
This summer there were 60 extraordinary artworks on view at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. What is astonishing is those 60 artworks were created by high school students — artworks accurately described as “breathtaking,” with “stunning technique and thought-provoking content.”
The students ranged from some 59 schools located in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. The 60 on view were chosen from 850 submissions for the Bruce’s Annual Regional Juried High School Exhibition, iCreate, held at the Bruce since year 2008. Students were able to submit up to three entries digitally. Of 100 selected, we saw 60 at the exhibit. Three of those 60 were from New Canaan High School’s own.
Luminous was the oil painting of a girl lying down “In the Trees” by New Canaan High School senior Julia Waetzig. She chose Taylor Swift as her muse in her “exploration of realism.” Explains Waetzig:
This work was done as an exploration of realism in an oil painting class I took during my semester away at The Oxbow School of Art and Academics. One of my biggest artistic inspirations is Taylor Swift, so it came quickly to me that I would choose her as my muse. More specifically, the feelings and imagery invoked in her 2020 album “folklore” greatly inspired this painting. For this work, I also chose to focus on my ability to replicate a reference with a sense of realism while still maintaining a painterly quality.
This piece began with raw canvas and stretcher bars that I assembled by hand. I then stretched the canvas and gessoed it. This was my first experience with assembling a canvas, and it made the artistic process all the more personal and introspective. I spent 6 weeks on this painting and in this time I poured every minute of free time I had into it, almost becoming obsessed. It is, to this day, my proudest achievement. This work was recently purchased by my school, and will now feature as a permanent installation.
“Cross-Section”
Avery Morawa
Grade 12, New Canaan High School
Acrylic and gel pen on paper
I create art as a form of self-expression that goes beyond what words can voice. I view art as a form of communication, a way to share my thoughts and emotions that don’t necessarily lend themselves to words. My art is foundationally an extension of myself and my mind. Visually, my work reflects this thoughtfulness, featuring highly detailed paintings with involved meanings that lend themselves to many complex interpretations. I primarily work in acrylic paint and watercolor to access a wide range of values and to instill a sense of free movement. Motifs in my work are anatomy—most often the human heart—inspired by my passion for medicine and science. I am inspired by human connection, another aspect represented by the human heart symbol that is often featured in my works. Through the use of visceral anatomical art, I comment on multiple facets, including intricate personal relationships and feminist issues. My ultimate goal is to spread awareness and create change in an unconventional form of media: my art.
“Cowboy Gas Station”
Berkley Matthews
Grade 12, New Canaan High School
Oil on paper
I’ve been painting ever since I can remember, and it is by far my favorite medium, along with pen and ink. I used to only paint in acrylic but have now transitioned to using oil paint and working on a smaller scale on mixed media paper.
For this more interpretive focus, I chose the theme I call “Glitches” to investigate in my art. The deeper meaning of this exploration involved taking ‘normal’ things and morphing or distorting them to create a new, different reality. In this piece, I focused on turning a mundane gas station into a reflection of the world around it. I made an effort to focus more on using oil paint and perfecting my painting skills. I can see so much growth in my work now versus a year ago, and can confidently say I am proud of my artwork.
iCreate serves as an outlet for emerging artists, amplifying the scope of their pieces’ influence, and providing the community a glimpse into local artistic potential.
This regional exhibition inspires enigmatic young minds to embrace their unique styles and to engage with other artists in their age group. The confidence that emerges in young artists who are selected and attention to all the participants is particularly valuable. The iCreate exhibition is a platform to celebrate their passion and creativity.
The volume of the artwork the museum received was breathtaking. The final selection encompassed some of the best talents in the area and undoubtedly awed and inspired all audiences.
iCreate aims to promote the importance of art education, celebrate creativity, and inspire young artists and visitors alike. For further youth engagement, iCreate is planned annually by a team of passionate high school students interning at the Bruce Museum.
Sponsors included the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Gale Lawrence, and Deborah Simon.
